Hear Lorde Reimagine ‘Take Me To The River’ For Talking Heads Tribute Album

Lorde has shared her cover of Al Green‘s “Take Me To The River” featured on the forthcoming A24 Music compilation Everyone’s Involved: A Tribute To Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense. The New Zealanders’ rendition is the third preview of the 16-track compilation following Paramore’s “Burning Down The House” and Teezo Touchdown’s “Making Flippy Floppy.”

Originally released by Al Green in 1974, Talking Heads put out their version of “Take Me To The River” on their 1978 album, More Songs About Buildings And Food. The cover was a staple of Talking Heads’ concerts and was featured in their iconic Jonathan Demme-directed concert film Stop Making Sense.

Everyone’s Involved: A Tribute To Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense is due out later this year with additional contributors including The National, Miley Cyrus, Chicano Batman featuring Money Mark, The Linda Lindas, Toro y Moi and others. The compilation was assembled as part of an on-going celebration of the 40th anniversary of Stop Making Sense. A24 brought a restored 4K print of the movie to theaters worldwide last fall.

Lorde breathed new life into “Take Me To River” by incorporating synth arpeggios and bursts of percussion while keeping the focus on the groovy bass line at the song’s core. She put out a note revealing the legendary rock band’s version of the Al Green classic was the first Talking Heads song she ever heard. Lorde recorded her rendition at Echo Park in Los Angeles with producer Jim-E Stack.

Stream Lorde’s “Take Me To The River” and view her note on the cover below: